Ladakh Best Trekking Tours and Travel Safar

Ladakh
is a land like no other. Bounded by two of the world's mightiest mountain
ranges, the Great Himalayas and the Karakoram, it lies athwart two other,
the Ladakh range and the Zanskar range, now turned into famour Holiday Destinations of India.

In geological terms, this is a young land, formed only a few million years
ago by the buckling and folding of the earth's crust as the Indian
sub-continent pushed with irresistible force against the immovable mass of
Asia. Its basic contours, uplifted by these unimaginable tectonic movements,
have been modified over the millennia by the opposite process of erosion,
sculpted into the form one sees today by wind and water.

A Land Safari on the Virtually Rainless Area
Today, a high -altitude desert safari will take you to rain-bearing clouds of
Ladakh Tour, where you will meet the mighty Great Himalayas. Ladakh was once
covered by an extensive lake system, the vestiges of which still exist on
its south -east plateaux of Rupshu and Chushul - in drainage basins with
evocative names like Tso-moriri, Tsokar, and grandest of all, Pangong-tso.

Occasionally, some stray monsoon clouds do find their way over the
Himalaya, and lately this seems to be happening with increasing frequency.
But the main source of water remains the winter snowfall. Drass (also spelt
as Dras), Zanskar and the Suru Valley on the Himalaya's northern flank
receive heavy snow in winter; this feeds the glaciers whose melt water,
carried down by streams, irrigates the fields in summer.

For the rest of the region, the snow on the peaks is virtually the only
source of water. As the crops grow, the villagers pray not for rain, but for
sun to melt the glaciers and liberate their water. Usually their prayers are
answered, for the skies are clear and the sun shines for over 300 days in
the year.

Ladakh lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet (2,750m) at Kargil
to 25,170 feet (7,672m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram. Thus it has lot
of potential for adventure tourism, whether it is high altitude trekking of mountaineering. summer
temperatures rarely exceed about 270 C in the shade, while in winter they
may plummet to -200 C even in Leh. Surprisingly, though, the thin air makes
the heat of the sun even more intense than at lower altitudes; it is said
that only in Ladakh can a man sitting in the sun with his feet in the shade
suffer from sunstroke and frostbite at the same time!

Central Ladakh Travel Tour

Its
A tour of Centeral Ladakh have the attractions of mural, dating from the 11th
and 12th centuries, pre-date the Tibetan style
of painting that is present are reminiscent of the paintings of the far off
Ajanta Caves and are presumed to be almost sole survivors of the Buddhist
style current in Kashmir during the first millennium AD, along with some in
Phugtal Gompa in Zanskar, and Tabo in Spiti

Northern Ladakh

KARGIL Travel Tour
Kargil Travel tour to the second town of Ladakh, is situated on the Suru River just short
of its confluence with the Dras-shingo. Almost equidistant, at a little over
200-km from Leh, Srinagar, Padum in Zanskar and Skardu, the capital of
Baltistan, it was in the old days the centre of a network of routes joining
these places. After partition, Skardu went into Pakistan, but Kargil remains
the main staging-point between Srinagar and Leh, and the Gateway to the Suru
valley and Zanskar.

SURU VALLEY Travel Tour
The Suru valley tour of a greatly underrated part of Ladakh, runs for about 140-km
from Kargil up to the base of the Penzi-la pass into Zanskar. Although
immobilized in winter by heavy snowfall, its fields, watered by streams fro
the surrounding mountains, produce rich crops of wheat and barely.
Traditionally, it has been an area surplus in foodgrains.

Irrigation water is plentiful enough to allow the plantation of thick
stands of willow and poplar, giving the area lushness rare in Ladakh. About
halfway along its length there is great trekking route along the river loops, its way past a huge mound of
alluvium, the last gasp of the Zanskar range, to carry on, past the glaciers
of the Nun-kun massif to Rangdum, a Gompa on a hillock overlooking a wide
marshy plain.

The lower portion of the valley is ideal for jeep safari trip, as its immediate charms apart, offers
spectacular views of Nun-Kun and its attendant peaks. Expeditions to it
mostly take off from Panikhar, the village just short of the valley's
right-angled turn, which is also the base for long treks in the direction of
Kashmir and Kishtwar. Other trekking bases are Sanku, further down the
valley, and Rangdum.

ZANSKAR Travel Tours
Two rivers, flowing towards each other along the northern flank of the
Great Himalayas, meet in the broad plain of Padum. They become the Zanskar
River, which flows off northwards through a gorge in the Zanskar range, to
meet the Indus at Nimo. This T-Shaped complex of valleys is Zanskar, opened
to motor traffic only in 1980 when a road was built via the Suru Valley and
Rangdum and over the Penzi-la.

Ladakh A Trekkers Paradise
Virtually untouched by the winds of change and modernization till then,
Zanskar is now a favourite destination for trekkers. There are many trekking
tours organized by Kashmir tourim and travel to give visitors a perfect holiday
vacations. Padum is the centre for
hard but rewarding treks to Manali via the Shingo-la (16,732 feet/5,100m);
Kishtwar via the Umasi-la (17,828 feet/5,434m); and Lamayuru and Leh via
difficult routes through the Zanskar range.

Zanskar hills are also known as a land of religion and has the greatest
concentration of Gompas in Ladakh, outside the Indus Valley. The important
travel attractions are Sani, Karsha and Stongde in the central plain, Bardan and Phugtal
just off the Padum-Manali trail, and the small hermitage of Dzonkhul on the
way to the Umasi-la.

Arts & Crafts

ARTS
AND CRAFTS
There is little tradition of artistic craftsmanship in Ladakh, most luxury
articles in the past having been obtained through imports. The exception is
the village of Chilling, about 19-km travel up the Zanskar River from Nimo. Here, a
community of metal workers, said to be the descendants of artisans brought
from Nepal in the mid-17th century to build one of the gigantic Buddha -
images at Shey, carry on their hereditary vocation. Working in silver, brass
and copper, they produce exquisite items for domestic and religious use: Tea
and Chang pots, teacup-stands and lids, Hookah-bases, ladles and bowls and
cooking pots they need for everyday use.

Craft of Weaving
'Pattu', the rough, war, woollen material used for clothing is made from
locally produced wool, spun by women on drop-spindle, and woven by
semi-professional weavers on portable looms set up in the winter sunshine,
or under the shade of a tree in summer. Baskets, for the transport of any
kind of burden-manufacture for the fields, fresh vegetables, even babies-are
woven out of willow twigs, or a particular variety of grass. Woodwork is
confined largely to the production of pillars and carved lintels for the
houses, and the low carved tables that are a feature of every Ladakhi living
room.

Many such items, together with others recently introduced as part of the
development process, are available in the District Hnadicrafts Centre at
Leh, which exists to train local people as well as to market their products.
There one can find, in addition to traditional objects, a few special items
like Pashmina shawls- rough compared with those produced in Srinagar, but
soft and warm as only pure Pashmina can be: and carpets in designs and
techniques borrowed from Tibet. Similar carpets are also to be had at the
Tibetan Refugee Centre at Choglamsar.

Thangka Paintings
The Handicrafts tourism also has a department of Thanka painting. These
icons on cloth are executed in accordance with strict guidelines handed down
from past generations. In the same tradition are the mural paintings in the
Gompas, where semi-professionals, both monks and laymen about to keep the
walls decorated with images symbolizing the various aspects of the Buddhist
Way. The skill of building religious statues is also not extinct. The
gigantic representation of Maitreya was installed in Thise Gompa as recently
as the early 1980s. Its a good ideal to shop for some of these artifacts on your holiday tours to Ladakh.

Other Attractions of Ladakh Region

Even
Rupshu's bare hills support a sparse population of wildlife, and the animal
most likely to be spotted is the Kyang, the wild Ass of the Ladakh and Tibet
plateaux. Wild life safari tours will take you to explore plentiful are Marmots
(ubiquitous on mountain slopes all over
Ladakh), Hares, and an unusual tail-less rat. The lakes are breeding-grounds
for numerous species of birds. Chief travel attractions among the tourist are the bareheaded Goose,
found in great numbers on the Tso-moriri, the great crested grebe, the
Brahmini Duck (Ruddy Sheldrake) and the brown-headed Gull.

Ladakh Specifics

CHORTENS AND MANI WALLS - Buddhist Monastries
As your travel in Ladakh and visit Chortens, among the more visible expressions of Buddhism in Ladakh are the chess pawn
shaped Chortens at the entrance to villages and monasteries. These are the
Tibetan equivalent of the Indian Stupa- large hemispherical burial mounds
cum devotional objects, prominent in Buddhist ritual since the 3rd century
BC.

About Chortens
Made of mud, stone and now also concrete, many Chortens were erected as
acts of piety by Ladakhi nobles, and like their southern cousins, they are
imbued with mystical powers and symbolic significance: the tall tapering
spire, normally divided into thirteen sections, represents the soul's
progression towards nirvana, while the sun cradled by the crescent moon at
the top stands for the unity of opposites, and the oneness of existence and
the universe.

Some contain sacred manuscripts that, like the chortens, wither and decay
in time, illustrating the central Buddhist doctrine of impermanence. Those
enshrined in monasteries, however, generally made of solid silver and
encrusted with semi precious stones, contain the ashes or relics of revered
'Rinpoches' (incarnate Lamas).

Always
pass a Chorten in a clockwise direction: the ritual of circumambulation
mimics the passage of the planets through the heavens, and is believed to
ward off evil spirits. The largest array is to be found in the desert east
of Shey, the former capital, but look out for the giant, brightly painted
specimen between the bus station and Leh bazaar whose red spire stands out
against the snowy Stok Kangri mountains to the south.

The Mani Wall
A short Trekking trip downhill from the big Chorten, near the radio station, stands
an even more monumental symbol of devotion. The 500-metre Mani Wall, erected
by King Deldan Namgyal in 1635, is one of several at important religious
sites around Ladakh. Ranging from a couple of metres to over a kilometre in
length, the walls are made of hundreds of thousands of stones, each
inscribed with prayers or sacred mantras - usually the invocation Om Mani
Padme Hum: "Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus". It goes without
saying that such stones should never be removed.

WEDDING CEREMONIES Travel Tours
A visitor to Ladakh rarely has a chance to see a Buddhist wedding
performance according to the old customs and ceremonies. Today too much
foreign influence is likely to have crept in; European clothing is slowly
replacing the traditional dress.

The celebration begins in the morning at the house of the bride. The all
male party celebrated with Chang, which, according to custom, one must take
in three consecutive draughts. As a special sign the host improved the
'Chang' by adding butter. A celebration meal is served in the afternoon, but
again only men partook.

The
bride remains in her mother's kitchen, symbolically indicating where her
place is! Clothed in a wedding gown with a silver embroidered cape,
decorated with old family jewellery, the bride is overwhelmed with lucky
white ribbons and given gifts of money by her relatives and friends. While
the men sing and the mother laments, the bride then goes to the family of
the bridegroom, where she is met, in front of the house, by Lamas.

The Celebrations
Now the celebration proper begins. In a long ceremony, in which the bride
must first of all refuse the food which is offered to her, the bride is led
from her father or a friend of the family, to her husband, with whom she
then symbolically partakes of a meal. She is then shown the house, with
particular emphasis on the kitchen. By sunrise the ceremony is concluded,
but not the celebration, which is a social occasion for the families with
musicians, food and much, much Chang.

FUNERAL CEREMONIES
Near to the palaces at Stok, Shey and Leh one may notice a large number of
Chortens, the old 'pleasure gardens' of the kings of Ladakh. If one travel
into the side valley, to the north east of Leh, on whose eastern slopes the
road to the Nubra valley begins, one may find a Lare stone where a curious
funeral practice was once conducted. The bodies of the dead were hacked to
pieces and ground up with stones then left to be devoured by vultures. This
practice was also followed in Tibet and is still followed in the Mustang
region of Nepal.

Today the site of dismemberment is used for cremations. After a ceremony in
the house of the dead person the corpse is tied up in a covered Sedan chair.
Accompanied by Lamas the procession makes its way into the side valley near
Leh. A few hundred metres northwest of the Chortens the procession halts and
the chair is placed in a walled oven. This is really only a vertical tube
with fire hole underneath. The fire is started with many prayers and during
the long ceremony oil is frequently thrown into the oven until the cremation
is complete. The ashes are scattered into a holy river or in the case of a
person of high standing, placed in a Chorten.

BEACON HIGHWAY
The beacon highway leads from Leh into the Nubra valley over a pass at
5,606 metres - making it probably the highest road in the world. 'You can
have dialogue with god' according to the road builder's sign! Only in
September and October is the road open, at other times ice covers the road
on the northern side of the Nubra valley. For foreigners the road tour is closed
year round since the Nubra valley is in the restricted area and can only be
visited with special permission.

CHOGLAMSAR
Choglamsar is the main training place for Buddhist monks in Ladakh. Since
the Chinese invasion of Tibet the school of Buddhist philosophy school, on
the right hand side of the road from Leh to Hemis, has become an important
centre for the study of Tibetan literature and history and of Buddhist
philosophy in its pure form. Many westerners, interested in Buddhist
learning and meditation, have also studied here. Choglamsar has an extensive
syllabus and its library is worth seeing, even for the casual visitor.

In 1977 the old bridge at Sonam Ling was replaced with a new one able to
take heavy vehicles. Take a trekking trip of a jeep safari to reach the Mani
stones in the village of Palam, which
has a mixed Buddhist and Muslim population. The Hemis Stangna-Palam road is
very rough and there are some river crossings to be made but there is a
regular bus connection.

The People

People
& Their Life
The traveller from India will look in vain for similarities between the
land and people he has left and those he encounters in Ladakh. The faces and
physique of the Ladakhis, and the clothes they wear, are more akin to those
of Tibet and Central Asia than of India.

The original population may have been Dards, an Indo- Aryan race from down
the Indus. But immigration from Tibet, perhaps a millennium or so ago,
largely overwhelmed the culture of the "Dards" and obliterated
their racial characteristics. In eastern and central Ladakh, today's
population seems to be mostly of Tibetan origin.

West Travel, in and around Kargil, there is much in the people's
appearance that suggests a mixed origin. In fact, entire Baltistan (the
districts of Skardu, Ganche in POK and Kargil in India) is a heterogeneous
mixture of various ethnic groups such as Tibetan, Central Asian, Mongolian
and Indo-Iranian. It is believed that the dominant community of those times,
the Tibetans intermingled with other ethnic groups thereby giving rise to a
new community altogether - known as the Arghons. Those who have made careful
assessment of the local population indicate that the Arghons today
constitute more than half of it whereas the Tibetans are almost 35 % of the
population. Rest of the population is formed of Mons, Tatars, Indo-Iranians,
Dards and some Arab families. Majority of the people speak Balti dialect
with as much as 93% of people here claiming it tobe their mother tongue.

The Balti people live in an area that is highly important in terms of its
geo-strategic location. The trade routes that once passed through it were
the economic lifeline of the people living here. Situated just south to the
Himalayan peak K2, the erstwhile region of Baltistan (called Baltiyul in the
Balti language) was located towards north of Kashmir. This region also
borders the Chinese province of Xinjiang. Today the region stands divided
between India and Pakistan. The districts of Skardu and Ganche are located
in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir, though India has never given up its claim
over these areas. The district of Kargil is the Indian part of Baltistan and
is located in the northern most state of India, Jammu and Kashmir.

Influence Of Buddhism
Buddhism reached Tibet from India via Ladakh, and there are ancient
Buddhist frock engravings allover the region, even in areas like Drass and
the lower Suru valley which today re-inhabited by an exclusively Muslim
population. The divide between Muslim and Buddhist Ladakh passes through
Mulbekh (on the Kargil-Leh Road) and between the villages of Parkachik and
Randum in the Suru Valley, though there are pockets of Muslim population
further east, in Padum (Zanskar), in Nura Valley and in and around Keg.

Travel to Buddhist Village which is invariably marked by 'Mani' walls,
which are ling chest-high structures faced with engraved stones bearing the
Mantra "Om Mane Padme Hum" and by 'Chorten', commemorative cairns,
like stone pepper-posts. Many villages are crowned with a 'Gompa' or
monastery, which may be anything from an imposing complex of temples, prayer
halls and monks' dwellings, to a tiny hermitage housing a single image and
home to a solitary Lama.

The
Muslim Inhabitants
Islam too came from the west. A peaceful penetration of the 'Shia' sect
spearheaded by missionaries, its success was guaranteed by the early
conversion of the Sub-rulers of Drass, Kargil and the Suru Valley. In these
areas, 'Mani' walls and Chorten are replaced by mosques often-small
unpretentious buildings, or 'Imambaras' imposing structures in the Islamic
style, surmounted by domes of sheet metal that gleam cheerfully in the sun.

Status Of Women In Ladakh
The demeanour of the people is affected by their religion, especially among
the women. Among the Buddhists, as also the Muslims of the Leh area, women
not only work in the house and field, but also do business and interact
freely with men other than their own relations.

In Kargil and its adjoining regions on the other hand, it is only in the
last few years that women are merging from semi-seclusion and taking jobs
other than traditional ones like farming and house-keeping.

Traditional Rituals & Leisure Activities
The natural joie-de-vivre of the Ladakhis is given free rein by the ancient
traditions of the region. Monastic and other religious festivals, many of
which fall in winter, provide the excuse for convivial gatherings. Summer
pastimes all over the region are archery and polo. Among the Buddhists,
these often develop into open-air parties accompanied by dance and song, at
which 'Chang', the local brew made from fermented barley, flows freely.

Information on Religious Harmony
Of the secular culture, the most important element is the rich oral
literature of songs and poems for every occasions, as well as local versions
of the "Kesar Saga", the Tibetan national epic. This literature is
common to both Buddhists and Muslims. In fact, the info on most highly developed
versions of the Kesar saga, and some of the most exuberant and lyrical songs
are said to be found in Shakar-Chigtan an area of the western Kargil
district exclusively inhabited by Muslims, unfortunately not freely open to
tourists yet.

Ceremonies
Ceremonial and public events are accompanied by the characteristic music of
'Surna' and 'Daman' (Oboe and drum), originally introduced into Ladakh from
Muslim Baltistan, but now played only by Buddhist musicians known as "Mons".

When a child is born the family usually holds a festival for their
relatives, neighbours and friends after the first 15 days, at age one month
and after a year. All are invited to come to the house and are given
'Tsampa', butter and sugar, along with tea to eat and drink all day.

Wedding Process & Celebrations
When a marriage occurs festivities again continue all day with musicians
and dancing. The first day is spent in feasting at the bride's house, the
second at the groom's place. When the daughter of the family marries she
goes to live in the house of her husband's partner. Boys are usually married
or promised for marriage at about 16, girls at about 12. To make a proposal
a relative of the boy goes to the house of the girl and gives a ring
together with presents of butter, tea and 'Chang'. If the gifts are accepted
then the marriage follows some months later.

The boy offers a necklace and clothes to the girl. The parents of the girl
give the couple clothes, animals and land if they are rich. These gifts are
known as a "Raqtqaq" or dowry. When the father of the family dies
his place is taken by the eldest brother. The other brothers must obey the
eldest brother. All inheritance of the family goes to the eldest brother and
then to the next brother when he dies.

If the family consists of all girls, then the father will bring the husband
of the eldest daughter into the house and all land stays in the daughter's
name and passes to her first son. Both sets of parents must accept the
proposal of the boy for the girl. Usually the marriage is set by both sets
of parents, who will choose a suitable partner for their child on the basis
of manner, health and ability to earn income and look after a house.

Prime Travel Attractions and Places to Visit in Ladakh

Travel About
20-km south of Rangdum stands the Pazila watershed across which lies
Zanskar, the most isolated of all the trans Himalayan Valleys. The Panzela
Top (4,401 m) is the picturesque tableland adorned with two small alpine
lakes and surrounded by snow-covered peaks. more..

Hemis

Thanks to the Hemis Setchu festival - one
of the few held in summer, when the passes are open - Hemis, 45-km southeast
of Leh, is the most famous Gompa in Ladakh.

Sankar Gompa

Sankar Gompa, 3-km north tour of the
town centre, is most travel monastery and the most ccessible monasteries in central Ladakh -
hence its restricted visiting hours for tourists

Alchi

Treking on the nearby Srinagar-Leh
highway, you'd never guess that this is one of the most significant
historical sites in Asia.

Baltoro Glacier

Travel to Baltoro glacier is situated
on the southern slopes of the central Karakoram Range in the Baltistan area
of Jammu and Kashmir. The location of Boltoro is in a huge arena hemmed by
high peaks.

Baralacha Pass

On the long Manali -Leh road and
providing a route across the Baralacha range is the famous Baralacha Pass.
It is situated at a spectacular 16,400 ft above sea level. The pass itself
is 8-km long, and is literally the pass "where many roads meet".

Biafo Glacier

The Biafo glacier is located on
the south-facing slopes of the Karakoram Range in the Baltistan area of
Ladakh. It has a trekking tour of about 60-km and descends from a large glacial
trough.

Dah-Hanu

Dah and Hanu are places on the far
side of the great Indus River on the far side of Leh. Surrounded by the
great Hindu - Kush mountains and peopled by a hardy but gentle people who
have a bank of strange legends to relate for the weary traveller's ears.
A jeep safari is ideal choice to reach the point.

Dosmoche Tradition

An ancient tradition started by the
kings of Ladakh, Docmoche is still celebrated every year in February with
great pomp and fervour. The courtyard of the chapel below the gates of the
Leh of the Leh Palace comes alive with the music of drums and the thumping
steps of the masked Lamas from different monasteries performing the sacred
dance-drama.

Hemis Festival Tour

Visit Ladakh during the Hemis Festival.
One of the most popular monastic
selections in Ladakh, the festival of them is symbolises the centuries-old
traditions of the Kar-gyur-pa sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Hemis High Altitude Wildlife Safari Tour

The
Hemis High Altitude National Park includes the catchments of two valleys,
which drain into the River Indus. It is named after the famous monastery --
Hemis, and sprawls over 600-sq-km in the Markha And Rumbak valleys.

Karakoram Pass

The Karakoram Pass lies on one
of the highest trade routes in the world for Yarkand in Central Asia.
There are many trekking tours to reach the Pass offered by the
Ladakh tourism and travel.

Khardong La & Digar La Pass

The Khardong La
pass is situated at an incredible elevation of over 5,800 m (18,680 ft). It
lies on the route between Leh and the Shyok and Nubra valleys

Lakes in Ladakh

The Tso Morari Lake is one of
the largest lakes in Ladakh region and is almost like an inland sea. At an
altitude of almost 4,500 meters, the Pangong Tso is only 8-km wide at its
broadest but is an amazing 134-km long. Kyaghr lake is the halting place for
those who are on their trekking holidays, and moving from the Kiangdum camping ground to the Tsomorari Lake.

Lamayuru

If one sight could be said to sum up
Ladakh, it would have to be Lamayuru Gompa, travel to 130-km west of Leh. Hemmed in by
a moonscape of scree covered mountains, the white washed medieval monastery
towers above a scruffy cluster of tumbledown mud brick houses from the top
of a near vertical, weirdly eroded cliff.

Likkir Gompa Trip

6-km to the north of the main
Leh-Srinagar highway, shortly before the village of Saspol, the large and
wealthy Gompa of Likkir, home to around one hundred monks, is renowned for
its huge yellow statue of the Buddha to come which towers above the terraced
fields and village below.

Losar

Losar is the most elaborate of all the
socio -religious events of Ladakh. It involves the entire population of the
region. Interestingly, the rites and rituals are a mixture of Buddhist and
the pre Buddhist Bon religious practices.

Matho

Matho, 27-km south of Leh, straddles a
spur at the mouth of an idyllic side valley. Though no less interesting or
scenically situated than its neighbours, the Gompa sees comparatively few
visitors.

Matho Nagrang

On the 15th day of the 1st
Tibetan month, a 2-day festival is held at the Matho Monastery - the only
Saskyapa monastic establishment in Ladakh Hill Station.

Monastic Festivals Travel Tour

The tour on the monastic
festivals will give you insight to the events that provide the average Ladakhi with the spice of life. No other
festival can match them in religious and entertainment value. These
festivals are held to commemorate the founding of a monastery, the birthday
of its patron saint or major events in the evolution of Tibetan Buddhism.

Mulbekh

West of Lamayuru, the main road crawls
to the top of Fatu-la (4,091m), the highest pass between Leh and Srinagar,
and then ascends Namika-la ("Sky Pillar"), so called because of
the jagged pinnacle of rock that looms above it to the south.

Namgyal Tsemo Gompa

Once one is acclimatized to
the altitude, the stiff early morning hike up to Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, the
monastery perched precariously on the shaly crag behind Leh palace, is a
great way to start the day.

Nubra Glacier

The Nubra glacier is located on
the southern slopes of the Karakoram Range in the Ladakh region of Jammu and
Kashmir. It is a large glacier located in a huge amphitheater that is ringed
by towering peaks.

Padum

Once the capital of the ancient kingdom
of Zanskar, Padum (3,505 m) is the present day administrative headquarters
of the region. With a population of nearly 1,500, Padum can be described as
the most populous settlement of Zanskar, otherwise a very scarcely inhabited
valley.

Panamic

After a cleansing trip to the hot
springs, where two rooms each have a deep tub filled with piping hot
sulphurous water, where's little to do in Panamic other than walking tour. A dot on
the mountainside across the river, Ensa Gompa makes an obvious excursion trip from Panamic.

Pangong Tso

Pangong Tso, 154-km to the
southeast of Leh, is one of the largest salt-water lakes in Asia, a long
narrow strip of water stretching from Ladakh east into Tibet. Only a quarter
of the 130-km-long lake is in Ladakh, and the Indian army, who experienced
bitter losses along its shores in the war against China in 1962, guard their
side of the frontier.

Phyang

A mere 24-km west of Leh, Phyang Gompa
looms large at the head of a secluded side valley that tapers north into the
rugged Ladakh range from the Srinagar highway.

Phyang Tsedup

Phyang is one of the two
Dringungpa Monasteries in Ladakh. This monastery can be reached trevelling
17-km west of Leh, holds its festival in July/august. Like other monastic festivals, sacred
dance-dramas or 'chhams' form the core of this festival.

River Rafting

While water levels are high,
between the end of June and late August, Leh's more entrepreneurial travel
agents operate rafting trips on the river Indus

Sankoo

A picturesque expanse surrounded by
colorful rocky mountains, Sankoo is an upcoming township with a small bazaar
and numerous villages around. Dense plantations of Poplers, Willows,
Myricarea and wild Roses fill the bowl shaped valley, giving it the ambience
of a man-made forest tucked within the mountain ramparts.

Siachen Glacier Tour

The most famous attraction
from Ladakh is Siachen glacier lies in the extreme north-central part of
Jammu and Kashmir near the border of India and
Tibet. With a length of about 72-km, Siachen is known as the largest glacier
in the world outside the Polar Regions. Many trekking tours are organized
by Ladakh tourism department during summer months.

Sind Valley

Considered by many to be the most
beautiful of Kashmir's side valleys, the Sind is also the travel route to
the Zoji la pass.

Sindhu Darshan Festival

The Sindhu Darshan or
Sindhu Festival aims at projecting the Indus as a symbol of India's unity
and communal harmony. Whilst promoting tourism to this area, this festival
is also a symbolic salute to the brave soldier of India.

Siser La Or Saser La

Siser La is a high
mountain pass in northern Ladakh in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It lies
on one of the highest trade routes in the world for Yarkand in Central Asia.

Stok

Just beyond the Tibetan refugee camp at
Choglamsar, a side road turns left off the highway to cross the Indus on an
iron bridge plastered with prayer flags, and then continues up towards a
huge TV mast.

Stongdey/ Stongde Monastery

The monastery of
Stongdey lies 18-km to the north of Padum, on the road leading to Zangla. An
old foundation associated with the Tibetan Yogi, Marpa, Stongdey is now the
second largest monastic establishment of Zanskar

Sumur

Soon after passing Khalsar, the road
crosses the confluence of the Shyok and Nubra to a patch of green sloping
from the river to the base of precipitous mountains. Sumur is home to the
Nubbra valley's most important monastery,

Suru Valley

The Suru Valley is formed by the
catchment are of the SuruRiver, which rises from the Panzella glacier.

The Nubra Valley

The 18,640 feet high Khardung
La pass forms the divide between the Nubra Valley and Leh. After crossing
the Khardung La, one descends to a place called "Khalsar",
situated on the left bank of the Shyok River.

Tulimpati La

The Tulimpati La is located in
Ladakh region of Jammu and Kahsmir. This pass opens up the route from the
Nubra Valley of Ladakh towards the Karakoram Pass.

Zozi La

Zoji La is a famous pass over the main
Himalayan range on the Srinagar-Leh highway. As a matter of fact, this pass
has often been termed as the gateway to Ladakh.

Buddhism In Ladakh

Although the Islamic
influence extends out of the Kashmir valley as far as Kargil in Ladakh, the
predominant religion is overwhelmingly the Tibetan, Lamaist form of
Buddhism.

Chemrey

Clinging like a swallow's nest to the
sides of a shaly conical hill, the magnificent Gompa of Chemrey sees very
few visitors because of its location - tucked up the side valley that runs
from Karu, below Hemis, to the Chang-la pass into Pangong.

Chong Kumdan Glacier

The Chong Kumdan glacier
is situated on the lower slopes of the Karakoram Range. It is located in a
trough that is surrounded by high peaks on all sides. The melt-water from
this glacier flows into the Shyok River, which in turn joins the Indus
River. The Chong Kumdan glacier had blocked the flow of the Shyok River
several times in the past. Thus the Gapshan Lake was formed which drained
away once the ice dam gave way. This glacier can be approached by travelling to Skardu in
Ladakh.

Dances Of Ladakh

Ladakhi Dances are very
colorful and majestic. The slow and gentle movements of these dances are
very well complemented by the richness of jewelled 'Peraks', Silver
ornaments and rich music.

Diskit And Hundur

The caramel brown hillside
above the old town supports Diskit's picturesque Gompa, built in 1420 by
Changzem Tserab Zangpo, a disciple of Tsong-kha-pa.

Gasherbrum Glacier Trekking Safari

The Gasherbrum glacier is
located on the southern slopes of the Karakoram Range in the Baltistan area
of Ladakh. It lies at the base of the Gasherbrum peak and has a length of
about 26-km. There are some of the most adventurious trekking trips to
Gasherbrum Glacier, that makes your holiday in Ladakh more thrilling
and full of adventure. The melt-water from this glacier joins the Shyok river system.
Glaciers in hanging valleys open into the main glacier. No vegetation grows
in this tract due to the extreme conditions of cold. This glacier can be
approached via Skardu in Ladakh.

Gu-Stor

Gu-Stor literally means 'Sacrifice of
the 29th day'. It is traditional to the monasteries of the reformist
Geluk-pa order of Tibetan Buddhism. This two-day long festival is held
mainly in the Spituk, Thiksay (also spelt as Thiksey) and Karsha (Zanskar)
monasteries, at different times every year. s

Hispur Glacier

Situated on the southern slopes
of the Karakoram Range in the Baltistan area of Ladakh is Hispar Glacier.

Rakaposhi Glacier

Rakaposhi glacier is located
on the lower slopes of the Karakoram Range in the Gilgit area of Ladakh. It
is tenanted on the north-facing slopes of the Rakaposhi massif. The
Rakaposhi glacier feeds an eastern tributary of the Hunza River, which in
turn flows into the Indus River. The Rakaposhi glacier lies in a trough
whose bottom gently slopes towards the north and northwest. Boulders and
rocks are strewn all over the surface. This glacier can be approached via
Gilgit in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Rupshu

Located east of Zanskar, the restricted
area of Rupshu is Ladakh's easternmost and most elevated region, blending
into western Tibet's high plains. In fact, topographically, but not
politically, Rupshu is an integral part of the Chang Tang, Tibet's
600-mile-wide, 15,000-foot high northern steppes, of which it is the
westernmost extremity.

Saltoro Glacier

The Saltoro glacier is located
on the southern slopes of the Karakoram Range in Ladakh makes some good trekking routs. Situated in a
cirque of the Saltoro massif, this glacier feeds one of the two main streams
of the Saltoro River, which in turn drains into the Shyok River.

Shyok Valley & Indus Valley

Indus is a
large valley formed by the main channel of the Indus River as it flows
across Ladakh. The Shyok Valley is the valley of the Shyok River -- the
river of death. This is a "Yarkandi" (Central Asian) name,
probably given by the Central Asian traders

Thak Thok Gompa

Clustered around a lumpy
outcrop of eroded rocks, 4-km up the valley from Chemrey, the small Gompa of
Thak Thok (pronounced Tak Tak and meaning "top of the rocks") is
the sole representative in Ladakh of the ancient Nyingmapa order.

Zangla

Lying deep in the northern arm of
Zanskar at the end of the 35-km long rough road from Padum, Zangla was being
ruled by a titular king till his death in 1989. The old castle now in ruins
except from a small chapel, occupies a hill, overlooking the desertic valley
below.

Zongkhul

A spectacular cave monastery of
Zanskar, Zongkhul falls on the Padum-Kishtwar trekking trail, just before
the ascent of Omasi-la Pass begins.

Significance - Ladakh

Historical

For
close on 900 years from the middle of the 10th century, Ladakh was an
independent kingdom, its dynasties descending from the kings of old Tibet.
Its political fortunes ebbed and flowed over the centuries, an the kingdom,
was at its greatest in the early 17th century under the famous King Senge
Namgyal, whose rule extended across Spiti and western Tibet up to the
Mayum-la beyond the sacred sites of Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.

And gradually, perhaps partly due to the fact that it was politically
stable, in contrast to the lawless tribes further west, Ladakh became
recognized as the best trade route between the Punjab and central Asia. For
centuries, caravans carrying textiles and spices, raw silk and carpets,
dyestuffs and narcotics traversed it.

Trade In Ladakh
Heedless of the land's rugged terrain and apparent remoteness merchants
entrusted their goods to relays of pony transporters who took about two
months to carry them from Amritsar to the Central Asian Towns of Yarkand and
Khotan. On this long route, Leh was the halfway house, and developed into a
bustling entrepot, its bazaars thronged with merchants from far countries.

The famous "Pashm" (better known as Cashmere) also came down from
the high-altitude Plateaux of eastern Ladakh and western Tibet where it was
produced, through Leh to Srinagar, where skilled artisans transformed it
from a matted oily mass of goat's under fleece into shawls known the world
over for their softness and warmth.

Ironically, it was this lucrative trade that finally spelt the doom of the
independent kingdom. It attracted the covetous gaze of Gulab Singh, the
ruler of Jammu in the early 19th century, and in 1834, he sent his general
Zorawar Singh to invade Ladakh. There followed a decade of war and turmoil,
which ended with the emergence of the British as the paramount power in
neighbouring province of Baltistan was incorporated into the newly created
State of Jammu and Kashmir. Just over a century later, this union was
disturbed becoming part of Pakistan, while Ladakh remained in India as a
part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

ANCIENT ROUTES
A Tour of The Caravan Route To Leh
Travel to this ancient route of Ladakh. Ladakh's position at the centre of
a network of trade routes traditionally
kept it in constant touch with the outside world. From Chinese Central Asia,
the mightily Karakoram Range was breached at the Karakoram pass, a giddy
18,350 Feet (5,600m).

The tour from Yarkand crossed five other passes, of which the most feared
was the glacier-encumbered Saser-la, north of Nubra. Travellers from Tibet
could take one of two main routes from the Central part of the country, the
Tsang-po valley, they could pass the holy sites of Kailash Mansarovar and
reach Gartok, on a tributary of the upper Indus, from where they followed
the river down to Leh.

Trade with the 'Pashm'-producing areas of western Tibet flowed by a more
northerly route, taking the village of Rudok, a few miles into Tibet, and
from there across to Chushul on the Pangong-tso, up the length of the lake
to Tangse, then a cross the 18,300feet (5,578m) Chang-la to the Indus, and
so to Leh.

Baltistan, joined administratively with Ladakh for 100 years, was linked to
it either via the Indus up to its confluence with the Suru-Shingo river, and
on up to Kargil: or by the Chorbat-la pass over the Ladakh range, the trail
dropping down to the Indus 40 km below Khalatse, and following the river up
to Leh.

Still Following The Old Path!
The two main approaches to Ladakh from south of the Himalayas are roughly
the same as today's motor roads from the Srinagar and Manali. The merchants
and pilgrims who made up the majority of travellers in the pre modern era,
traveled on foot or horseback, taking about 16 days to reach Srinagar;
though a man in a hurry, ridding non-stop and with changes of horse arranged
ahead of time all along the route, could do it in as little as three days.

The mails, carried in relays by runners stationed every four miles or so,
took four or five days. That was before the wheel as a means of transport
was introduced into Ladakh, which happened only when the Srinagar- Leh
motor-road was constructed as recently as the early 1960s.

Mythological

ORACLES AND ASTROLOGERS

The Ladakhi's believe implicitly in the influence of gods and spirits on
the material world, and undertake no major enterprise without taking this
influence into consideration.

The Lamas are the vital intermediaries between the human and the spirit
worlds. Not only do they perform the rites necessary to propitiate the Gods
- in private houses as wall as in the Gompa temples; they also often take on
the role of astrologers and oracles who can predict the auspicious time for
starting any enterprise. There are special travel tours to see the Lamas
indulging into affairs that are dependent to astrology, ploughing the fields, or taking in the
harvest, arranging a marriage or going on a journey - and advise as to the
auspicious way of going about it.

The Matho Gompa Oracle Tours
The most famous monk oracles are those of Matho Gompa. Ladakh tourism
has organised special trips to travel to those people who have
special divine powers. Chosen every three years by a traditional procedure, two monks spend several months in a
rigorous regimen of prayer and fasting to prepare and purify themselves for
their arduous role. When the time comes they are possessed by the deity,
whose spirit enables them to perform feats that would be impossible to
anyone in a normal state such as cutting themselves with knives, or
sprinting along the Gompa's topmost parapet. On this condition, they will
answer questioned put to them concerning individual and public welfare.
However, the spirit is said to be able to detect questions asked by
skeptical observers with the intention of testing him, and to react with
frenzied anger.

Based On Local Beliefs
There are also in some villages lay people, men and women, who have special
powers as oracles and healers. Some of them belong to families in which
there have been several such receptacles of spirit forces. Others are
diagnosed as such without any hereditary background.

The spirits possessing these lay persons are believed to be capricious, and
not always entirely benevolent, and some people resist being possessed by
them. Once they have accepted, however, they undergo a process of initiation
and training by monks and senior of oracles, and only after this is
completed may they start practising. The effectiveness of their spirit
healing is an article of faith with the Ladakhis.

Cultural

ORACLES AND ASTROLOGERS
The Ladakhi's believe implicitly in the influence of gods and spirits on
the material world, and undertake no major enterprise without taking this
influence into consideration.

The Lamas are the vital intermediaries between the human and the spirit
worlds. Not only do they perform the rites necessary to propitiate the Gods
- in private houses as wall as in the Gompa temples; they also often take on
the role of astrologers and oracles who can predict the auspicious time for
starting any enterprise, whether ploughing the fields, or taking in the
harvest, arranging a marriage or travelling to near by destinations- and advise as to the
auspicious way of going about it.

Leisure - Ladakh

ARCHERY AND POLO Adventure Sports
Travel to Leh, as Archery festivals are held during the
summer months, with a lot of fun and fanfare. There are various Ladakh
Tour packages promoted by Ladakh Travel Tourism to participate in these competitive events.
The shooting takes place according to strict etiquette, to the accompaniment of the music of Surna
and Daman (oboe and drum).

As important as the archery are the interludes of dancing and other
entertainment. Chang, the local barley beer, flows freely, but there is
rarely any rowdiness. The crowd attend in their; Sunday best, the men
invariable in traditional dress, and the women wearing their brightest
brocade mantles and their heaviest jewelley. Archery tours are pretext for
the gathering, but the party's the thing.

The Traditional Sport Of Polo Adventure
Polo tours are organized in Western Himalayas, especially to Baltistan and
Gilgit. It was probably introduced into Ladakh in the mid-17th century by
King Sengge (also spelt as Singe) Namgyal, whose mother was a Balti
princess. The game played here differs in many respects from the
international game, which indeed, is adapted from what British travellers
saw in the western Himalayas and Manipur in the 19th century.

Here, each team consists of six players, and the game lasts for an hour
with a ten-minute break. Altitude not withstanding, the hardy local
ponies-the best of which come from Zanskar - scarcely seem to suffer, though
play can be fast and furious. Each goal is greeted by a burst of music from
Surna and Daman; and the players often show extraordinary skill. For
example, when starting play after a goal the scorer gallops up to midfield
holding ball and mallet in the right hand, and throws the ball, hitting it
in the same movement towards the opposite goal.

Fairs & Festivals - Ladakh

FAIRS
AND FESTIVALS of Ladakh Tourism
The religious philosophy of Buddhism, however, profound and subtle doesn't
preclude and immense joie-de-vivre among its Ladakhi adhe-rents, and even
solemn religious enactment's are made the occasion for joyous celebration.
Ladakh tourism organize many annual festivals of the Gompa during winter, a relatively
idle time for the majority of the people and best time to take a trekking tour in Ladakh.

Colourful Events
Another event to enjoy while on your Ladakh safari is to watch
dance-dramas in the Gompa courtyards. Lamas, robed in
colourful garments and wearing often startlingly frightful masks, perform
mimes representing various aspects of the religion such as the progress of
the individual soul and its purification or the triumph of good over evil.

Local people flock from near and far and tourist from all over the country
come to be the part of these events, and the spiritual
benefits they get are no doubt heightened by their enjoyments of the party
atmosphere, with crowds of women and men, the opportunity to make new
friendships and renew old ones, the general bustle and sense of occasion.

Hemis Festival - One of The Most Famous Tourist Festival in Ladakh.
The biggest and the most famous of the monastic festivals, frequented by
tourists and locals alike, is that of Hemis, which falls in July, and is
dedicated to Padmasambhava, Every 12 years, the Gompa's greatest treasure, a
huge Thangka - a religious icon painted embroidered on cloth is ritually
exhibited. This is the ideal time to take a trip of Ladakh and enjoy the Hemis festival.

Other monasteries which have summer festival tours are Lamayuru (also early
July), Phiyang and Karsha in Zanskar (11 days after Phiyang). Like Hemis,
the Phiyang festival too involves the exhibition of a gigantic Thanka,
though here it is done every year.

Spituk, Stok, Thikse, Chemrey and Matho all have their festivals in winter,
between November and March. Likir amd Deskit (Nubra) time their festivals to
coincide with Dosmoche, the festival of the scapegoat, which is also
celebrated with fervour at Leh.

The New Year Festivities
Falling in the second half of February, Dosmoche is one of two New Year
festivals, the other being Losar. At Dosmoche, a great wooden mast decorated
with streamers and religious emblems is set up outside Leh. At the appointed
time, offerings of 'Storma', ritual figures moulded out of dough, are
brought out and ceremonially cast away into the desert, or burnt. These
scapegoats carry away with them the evil spirits of the old year, and thus
the town is cleansed and made ready to welcome the New Year.

Losar falls about the times the winter solstice, any time of the winter
solstice, any time between 8th and 30th December. All Ladhaki Buddhists
celebrate it by making offerings to the gods, both in the gompas and in
their domestic shrines.

How To Get There to Ladakh

Moving On
As befits India's remotest Himalayan town, Leh is singularly hard to get
to, and even harder to leave. Fragile road and air links mean visitors all
too often find themselves stranded waiting for passes to open or planes to
appear. Wherever and however one travels, book an onward ticket as far in
advance as possible and be prepared for delays if the weather changes.

Local Transport of Ladakh

INTERNAL TRANSPORT
The best and most reasonable way to travel within the region way to travel
within the region is by public buses, which ply on fixed routes according to
fixed time schedules. The most comfortable and convenient through expensive
mode of travel, however, is by taxis, cars, and Gypsy, which are available
for hire on fixed point-to-Point tariff.
For visits to the newly opened areas of Nubra, Changthang and Dah-Hanu it
is mandatory to engage the services of a registered/recognized travel agency
for making all the requisite arrangements including internal transport.
Detailed information about bus schedules, taxi tariff, travel agencies, etc.
can be obtained from the Tourist Office.

Travel By Road

ROAD Tour
The main overland approach to Ladakh is from the Kashmir Valley via the
434-km Srinagar-Leh road, which remains open for traffic from early June to
November. The most dramatic part of this road journey is the ascent up the
11,500 feet /3,505 m high Zoji-la, the passing the Great Himalayan Wall that
serves as the gateway to Ladakh.

The J&K State Road Transport Corporation (J&KSRTC) operates regular
Deluxe and Ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on this route with
an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis, cars and jeeps are also available at
Srinagar for the journey. Groups can charter deluxe and A-class buses for
Leh, Kargil or Padum (Zanskar) from the J and K SRTC at Srinagar.

Since 1989, the 473-km Manali-Leh road has been serving as the second land
approach to Ladakh. Open for the traffic from around mid-June to early
October, this high road traverses the upland desert plateaux of Rupshu whose
altitude ranges from 3,660m to 4,570m.

A number of high passes fall en route among which the highest one, known as
Taglang-la, is the world's second highest motor able pass at an altitude of
17,469 feet/5,325m. H.P. Tourism, H.P. SRTC and J&K SRTC operate Deluxe
and Ordinary bus services between Manali and LEH. The bus journey between
Leh and Manali takes about 19 hours or two days with an overnight halt in
camps at Serchu or Pang. Gypsy and jeep taxis are also available, both at
Manali and Leh.

Travel By Air

AIR TRAVEL
The quickest way out of Ladakh region is by plane. Airline service operates
regular scheduled flights to Leh from Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar.
Some private airlines are also planning to operate air services betwe4n
Delhi and Leh in the near future.

Hotel Resorts and Places To Stay in Ladakh

Leh
offers a variety of accommodation to suit almost every pocket or preference.
Most hotels are family-run establishments. Hotels are classified into A, B,
C and Economy categories while Guest Houses fall under Upper, Medium and
Economy class. Tariff quoted in the meals, a system followed by most
establishments. Tariff quoted in the A and B category hotels includes all
meals, a system followed by most establishments.

The Guest House is a less formal facility offering rooms in a part of a
residential house or its annex, where the guests can share the family
kitchen for meals. As a part from the low tariff offered for accommodation
ranging from very good to merely basic, the Guest House system also provides
an opportunity for the tourists to see and experience Ladakhi life from the
inside.

In the newly opened areas of the region- Nubra, Changthang and Dah-Hanu-
tourist infrastructure is also been adequately developed. The State Tourism
Department has developed accommodation facilities like Tourist complexes and
Hikers Huts at Tangse and Spangmik on the Pangong lake circuit, Korzok on
the Tso-moriri Lake, Deskit and Panamic in the Nubra Valley, and at Biama in
the Drokpa area.

Ladakh Trekking Tours and Camping Facilities
As an interim arrangement, the J and K Tourism Development Corporation has
started offering camping facilities properly furnished accommodation on the
Manali-Leh road, Deskit on Nubra valley Trekking Routs and Pangong lake Trek Tours.
Tourists can also seek accommodation as paying guest in a few selected homes in these places,
through they would be well, advised to travel fully equipped with personal
sleeping bags and some tinned provisions to be on the safe side, especially
when taking trekking trips on the Pangong and Tso-moriri lake areas.

There are also some Government - run Tourist Bungalows located mainly along
Leh Srinagar-Leh road. These offer the best value in the medium range, but
room availability is only if one holds a confirmed reservation. This is
possible only if a written requisition has been sent to the Tourist Office
at Leh or Kargil in advance.

Information of Climate in Ladakh

Weather of The Cold Desert
Ladakh lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet (2,750m) at Kargil
to 25,170 feet (7,672m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram. Thus summer
temperatures rarely exceed about 270 C in the shade, while in winter they
may plummet to -200 C even in Leh. Surprisingly, though, the thin air makes
the heat of the sun even more intense than at lower altitudes; it is said
that only in Ladakh can a man sitting in the sun with his feet in the shade
suffer from sunstroke and frostbite at the same time! The best time to Visit
Ladakh is during summers season from March to October when the weather is little warm.

General Information About Ladakh

Clothing

Zanskar experiences drastic
fluctuations in the daily temperature even during the height of summer.
While the days are pretty warm, even hot at times due to the desertic
effect, the evenings can become quite chilly thus requiring additional
clothing. It is advisable to be prepared for this situation with a pullover
and a down jacket while planning to travel to Ladakh. Other essential items include a sturdy pair of walking
shoes, a good sleeping bag, and a pair of woolen socks or some thick cotton
socks. It is also essential to bring a quality tent if the intention is to
travel or trek around on your own, and a good quality rucksack for back
packing. It is also important to carry your provisions from Srinagar or
Kargil, if a longer tour of the adjoining villages is intended.

Location

Northern Most Part Of J&K.

Altitude

9,000m.

Best Time to Visit

June To Mid September
Trekking Season: May To Mid-October
Mountaineering Season: Mid-May To Mid-October

Adventure Activities in Ladakh

The
climbing and trekking season extends from mid - May to mid -October, the ideal period
being from June to September because during this time only Ladakh remains
unaffected by the monsoon, which holds sway over most of the Himalayas.
Foreign climbing expeditions are required to obtain permission from the
Indian Mountaineering Foundation for climbing all listed peaks. A booking
fee, based on the height and popularity of the allotted peak, is charged and
a Liasion Officer is assigned to every climbing team. The minimum period
required for processing applications is six months. Every authorized
expedition is provided with adequate rescue coverage in the events of
accidents and illness.

Useful Information About Ladakh

Peak Season
Reservations
During the peak tourist season i.e. early June to mid-September, it is
advisable to book hotel rooms in advance. By late September, as the tourist
rush starts to decline, advance booking is not necessary as availability of
accommodation becomes rather easy. However, tourists planning winter trips
may have to book accommodation in advance so as to ensure provision of
heating arrangement s during the period of their intended stay.

Communication:
Kargil has worldwide direct dialing telephone facility, besides post and
telegraph offices. In addition J&K Tourism operates its own wireless
Radio phone network with field stations at Kargil, Padum and Leh which are
connected with controlling stations at Srinagar, Delhi and Jammu. During the
tourist season mobile wireless stations are also established in key places
in the remote areas.

Hospitals

The District hospital in Kargil is
fairly well equipped and staffed with a team of specialist and general
practitioners. In addition there are Medical Dispensaries at Drass, Mulbek,
Trespone, Sankoo, Panikhar and Padum each headed by a qualified doctor and
equipped with basic health care paraphernalia.

Tourist Information Centres

The Tourist office
here regularly updates its store of information on the region. Tourists
undertaking mountaineering expedition on hard trekking along difficult
routes are well advised to inform the Tourist Office at Kargil about their
routes and proposed program so as to monitor their welfare.

A Word of Caution - Ladakh

INNER-LINE
RESTRICTIONS
Entry of tourists beyond one mile north of Zoji-la-Drass-Bodhkarby-Khalatse
road is restricted. However, on the Khalatse-Leh road, the monasteries of
Tia-Tingmosgang, Rhizong, Likir and Phiyang can be visited even though these
fall north of the road. Similarly, tourists are allowed to visit Shey,
Thikse, Chemrey and Thak-Thok lying north of the Leh-Upshi road.

The Leh-Manali road is also open up to one mile east of its general
alignment. Although the northeastern and northern regions of Ladakh are now
partially opened for foreign tourists, there are required to obtain
permission from the Deputy Commissioner, Leh. This is only subject to
several condition of travelling along certain identified tour circuits in
groups of four or more. Permission to enter to other restricted areas can be
sought from:

The Ministry Of Home Affairs,
Government Of India,
Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi